One Man's thoughts, rants, and mumblings on family, life, and baseball.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Simple Things

Growing up, my Dad always wanted us to eat dinner together. Never could figure out why, since it seemed like all he did was fuss at us and tell us to be quiet. To this day, the man can't eat a meal unless you can hear crickets chirping in the background.

Plus, we had one of those booth type things, where we would all climb in and Pop would be at the end of the table, sitting in the only chair available.

I figured out the booth: if we were all packed in, there was no possibility of a random runaway from the table: we were in there until EVERYBODY was done. That I get: most nights, Rakes is up and down from the bar about as often as Joe Torre is waving to the bullpen. Not to mention when one of our neighbors rings the doorbell while we are trying to eat: usually that doesn't bother me. I'm more relieved over the fact Rakes or Trot hasn't defaced someone's home than I am bothered they interrupted dinner.

It's the being quiet I can't quite get: dinner time is when I hear about Ciera's first day of 4th grade (she loves it) or Rakes telling me, 500 times in a row, how "tool it bas to swing on the playset today". Trot doesn't quite talk yet, but by his grunts, points, and screams, I figure he had a pretty good day as well.

Dinner is also usually the point in the day where I get the rundown from Ang on who did what to whom and when, plus the daily "What damage did they cause to the house today?" report. Point is, hearing my kids laugh and giggle and tell about their day is one of my highlights.

Sure, some nights I'd rather read SI while I eat, or pretend I'm at some high class restaurant, or daydream about that trade of Kyle Snyder for Albert Pujols I've convinced myself would work, but I wouldn't trade dinner time for anything.

Well, maybe Pujols, but that's not happening, so why torture myself?

Life doesn't happen in big huge events: it happens when you eat dinner, or sit on the front porch swing, or spend 30 minutes listening to Hillary Duff. Sure, your ears or sanity may not ever be the same again, but you learn a lot about what makes a 9 year old girl tick.

I hope I never lose sight of the magic that takes place in the simple things: if I ever take for granted the few minutes a day where a life long memory is made, they should take away my Dad card for life.

Speaking of which, the Yankees lost 16-0 to the Tigers tonight: it's an 8 game lead going into the three game series tomorrow.

34 comments:

I have set at that booth seat and listened to you and your fairhaired bro. eating cereal sounding like nuts and bolts in a blender. I could pull up in my car mufflers roaring, Foghat on the 8track and still know the boys are eating cereal!

Tex, yep, just another night on Walton's mountain! I'd never trade Kyle: it's just an example of the sort of stuff that floats through my head during the day. One time, I had convinced myself that we could get Vladdy for 2 minor league pitchers and Wally the Mascot.

Bub, I remember those days: you and your porn stache and Javelin, jamming to "American Band" and pimping in your polyester slacks.

Great post Ted. Keep up the tradition of eating together as long as you can.

I'm tempted to say the Y*****s were eclipsed today, then I figured you guys won't get to see the eclipse of the Moon tonight.It's at around 9:00 pm here which must be 5 a.m. for you: hope you're not up!Reminds me of October 2004 in St Louis, and it's supposed to be red tonight: omens??

Ted - I think eating dinner together is something that will always pass down from one generation to the next, however, hopefully all the technology (including fancy stuff not even invented yet) will not interfere with that somehow in the future.

Beautiful post, little brother. I think it's very sweet they want to fill you in on their day. Be thankful; I get very little information from cousin Jerry, but sometimes at dinner he might surprise us with details. 'Course Libby tells EVERYTHING, but I prefer that to a quiet teenager. :)

8 game lead. Even sounds good. Just keep the whooping sticks out for the Yankee series, and get that division clinched. Go Sox!

I prefer to harass relatives. Its just that you and all the others seem to be obsessed with the Yankees. Reminds me of the OSU Cowboys, finish 1-100 but if that win is against the Sooners it is a good season.

If they lose this series regardless of what the Yanks do the rest of the way they are in your head. Take it to the bank and cash the check. Hope I am wrong but that rarely happens, HaHa.